NEHL Alnwick Castle Pastures = 28/02/26

NEHL Alnwick XC info 

Alnwick harriers are looking forwards to hosting the XC this weekend on Saturday 28th Feb 2026.

Information for runners

* Parking - all parking will be at the castle gardens car park. It is advised you go up the A1 to the Denwick turn off and back down to the car park to prevent traffic backing up to the town centre. This will also mean you get priority to turn in to the car park over people coming from the town. It’s £2.50 to park and it’s card payments only.

There is a 30-45 min busy period where the attendants can’t park you quick enough and that is around 12:15-1pm. You could be waiting for a while to park so please try to avoid arriving at that time.

* Dogs are permitted but if you can leave them at home, it would be much better. We really ask for it to be dog prohibited but as the public can walk through the pastures with their dog, we can’t mandate a ban. They must be kept on a short lead and under control. Plus, you can only take them on the defined paths. There is livestock and no dog should be going in to an area where there are animal, even on a lead.

* tent drop off. There is a picture of how to do it. Follow directions of marshals to get you off the road. Do not stop on the roadside, come in to the entrance of the park, drop your tents, etc. by the path and then leave using the one way system. You can use this system at the end to pick everything up.

* Blue badge parking. There is a very limited number of parking spots in the area of tent drop off but this is likely to be reduced this year due to mud. If you have a blue badge and cannot get a parking spot, you can drop passengers off/ collect passengers in the same way tent drop off happens.

* Athlete drop off. This is mainly for parents who try to drop athletes off on the road. But also for those who are late. Please do not stop on the road at all. Your 30 sec times by 100 cars causes huge blockages on the road and ambulances have struggled to get through on occasion. Instead, please come off the road as if you were dropping tents off.

* Course info and timings below

Start Times

12.00 Under 11 Boys

12.10 Under 11 Girls

12.20 Under 17 men

12.25 Under 17 women

12.40 Under 15 Boys

12.45 Under 15 Girls

12:55 Under 13 boys

13:00 Under 13 girls

13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women

13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran Men

Late Entries, Lost numbers, Guest entries

These will be available at race HQ for £10

M65 Transfers

Available at race HQ for no cost. M65s wanting to run in the two lap race must change to a Pink M65 number, and please be aware that if you have transferred you must obey the pack rules.

NEHL25-26 - Sherman Cup and Davison Shield

 Sherman Cup and Davison Shield, Temple Park 31/01/26

Hi all, thanks to all at South Shields Harriers for once again hosting this fixture. The big difference (of course) to the 'usual' fixtures is that all races are off scratch i.e. no packs for this event. Timetable is as usual though (see below). See attached course map for details of course and site for tents (pink area).

PARKING: 

ALL PARKING WILL BE AT EPINAY SCHOOL, NEVISON AVE NE34 8BT. 

THERE WILL BE A £3 PARKING CHARGE. 

We would like to remind people that Epinay School is a charity.  The preferred payment is cash, but they do have contactless payment.

GATES WILL OPEN FROM 0830

ANYONE OPTING TO PARK AT TEMPLE PARK LEISURE CENTRE, THERE IS ANOTHER EVENT AT THE CENTRE WITH PAY AND DISPLAY BY THE CENTRE WHICH WILL NOT BE MARSHALLED.

FORECAST:

The weather forecast, currently, is for a high of 6 degrees centigrade with 5% chance rain at 1pm, SW wind 36 km/hr. 

COURSE MAP:

RACE INFORMATION

As it's the Sherman Cup and Davison Shield, all races will be off scratch (NO PACKS), so be on time for your race.

Use your regular Harrier League number

Start Times

12.00 Under 11 Boys

12.10 Under 11 Girls

12.20 Under 17 men

12.25 Under 17 women

12.40 Under 15 Boys

12.45 Under 15 Girls

12:55 Under 13 boys

13:00 Under 13 girls

13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women

13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran Men

Late Entries, Lost numbers, Guest entries

These will be available at race HQ for £10

M65 Transfers

Available at race HQ for no cost. M65s wanting to run in the two lap race must change to a Pink M65 number, and please be aware that if you have transferred you must obey the pack rules.

Additional information

Team managers - DO NOT contact the chip timing company with late entries. We (race HQ) have the new entry system and the numbers.

NEHL 25-26 Wrekenton Race Report by Bill McGuirk

SALTWELL HOST SUPERB DAY’S SPORT

 

YOU wanted mud, well, you got it a plenty in the fourth fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League hosted superbly by Saltwell Harriers in Wrekenton. There was no sign of the dreaded stuff at the opening three fixtures at Thornley, Druridge Bay or Lambton, but as the snow disappeared on the tough former reclaimed pit land, it made a tough course even tougher. Saltwell, one of the oldest club’s in the land, pulled out all the stops to give competitors a great day’s sport from the off at the car park ably manned by young personnel to an excellent team of marshalls which included a couple of members leisurely going round litter picking! With the fixture disappointingly clashing with the Sunderland 10k it came as no surprise that numbers in the senior contests were down on previous fixtures this season - senior men 458, senior women 385 – however, that certainly wasn’t the case with the youngest age group, under-11s, where 71 boys and 65 girls managed to face the starter which was the biggest turnout this season, well done to all coaches and parents for making that happen.

 

SENIOR MEN

GATESHEAD’S Lewis Liddell led throughout the three-lap contest taking full advantage of his start over the medium pack (2min 30secs) and fast pack (5:00) to win comfortably in 33:18. Second across the line came Heaton’s Chris Larkin, running from the medium pack, in 34:24 (actual 31:54) to post the second fastest time overall, with fellow medium pack runner Stephen Jackson third home in 35:20 (32:50). 

Fastest on the course was Newcastle University’s Luke Davis who finished in 13^th place in 36:50 (31:50) with Jarlath McKenna (Tyne Bridge) next best in 15^th position in 37:07 (32:07). In the team stakes, North Shields Poly came out on top in Division One with 108pts, led home by Peter Glen-Ravenhill; Morpeth finished second on 132pts with Gateshead finishing a close third with 134pts. After four fixtures, the Poly head Division One with 10pts, followed by Gateshead on 12pts then Newcastle Uni on 14pts. Division Two is headed by Wallsend on 12pts followed by Elswick with the same number of points then comes Houghton with 16pts. Sedgefield head Division Three having come out on top in all four events, Tynedale are second with 10pts followed by Washington on 23pts.

458 finishers

 

UNDER-20 MEN

TYNEDALE’s Maximus Murray was first under-20 home crossing the line in fourth place running from the mediums finishing with a time of 35:32 (33:02) which was the quickest under-20 on the course. Durham City’s Thomas Runacres was next home in 14^th place in 36:59 (34:29) followed by Newcastle Uni’s Joseph Collini in 17^th place in 37:14. Second fastest under-20 behind Murray was Morpeth’s Oliver Tomlinson in 33:51 followed by Runacres. Under-20 athletes are counted as seniors for team purposes

SENIOR WOMEN

THE first four home ran from the slow pack taking advantage of a 2min 31sec start over the mediums and five minutes over the fasts and it was an excellent run by new Elswick recruit Maria Catterall who found the testing course to her liking after crossing the line (27:29) over a minute clear of the host club’s Julia Hunter (28:34). Completing the one-two-three came Jesmond Joggers’ Sorcha Macintyre in 28:38. 

Fastest on the course was Sunderland’s Jessica Fox, running from the fast pack after weaving her way through the field to finish in seventh place in 29:40 (actual 24:40). Second quickest was Jessica Eaton in eighth place, also from the fast pack, in 29:45 (24:45) followed by Anna Pigford in 11^th in 29:59 (24:59). 

Morpeth, led home by Morag Stead, won Division One with 35pts, followed by Tyne Bridge with 48pts then came Jesmond Joggers with 80pts. In Division Two, Gateshead, led home by Jess Sails, claimed top spot with 37pts, followed by Crook (50pts) and Elswick (51pts). In Division Three, Newcastle University, led home by Lola Potts, came out on top with 29pts, followed by Gosforth (82pts) and Blyth (107pts). The overall standings after four fixtures are – Division One: 1 Tyne Bridge 9pts; 2 Jesmond Joggers 12pts; 3 Morpeth 14pts. Division Two: 1 Crook 9pts; 2 Birtley 11pts; 3 Elswick 14pts.

385 finishers

UNDER-20 WOMEN

THIS age group is now run in conjunction with the seniors and first junior home was Newcastle University’s Lola Potts in 10^th position in 29:55 (27:25), next across the line in 26^th place came Emily Booth (Jarrow and Hebburn) in 30:41 followed by 31^st placed Ania Stobbart (Tynedale) in 30:48. Fastest on the course was Hatti Stead (Blackhill) in 26:19 followed by Blaydon’s Ellie Fellows (26:30) with Potts next best on 27:24. Under-20 athletes are counted as seniors for team purposes

 

UNDER-17 MEN

THE first three home took advantage of a 2min 30secs start with victory going to North Shields Poly’s Phoenix Hayton-Rowell in 18:41. Twenty seconds adrift came Darlington’s William Hart with Maddison Carr (Elswick) finishing in third place in 19:58. Tynedale’s Jamie Lonergan was next home running from the fast pack in 20:01 (17:31) followed by fellow fasts Freddie Palmer (Tyne Bridge) 20:11 (17:41) and Joe Shields (Durham City) 20:17 (17:47). 

In a tight team contest, Tynedale, led by Lonergan, came out on top with 30pts, followed by Tyne Bridge with 31pts and Durham City with 34pts. After four fixtures, Tynedale lead on countback with Durham City, both clubs on 8pts with Tyne Bridge in third place on 14pts.

26 finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

IT WAS a gun-to-tape win for Darlington’s Charlotte Owens (21:17) who came home nearly a minute clear of second-place Freya Beckingsale (North Shields Poly) who recorded 22:11. Morpeth’s Emma Tomlinson claimed the bronze award in third place in 22:34.

Matilda Owens (twin sister of Charlotte) was fastest on the course overall running in the fast pack, finishing in 20:54, followed by Charlotte, with Freya third fastest.  Next quickest Phoebe Mulligan (Prudhoe Plodders) running from the fast pack who finished in 13^th place in 24:55 (22:25). 

Only two clubs closed-in a team with Morpeth, led home Tomlinson, totalling 27pts to finish ahead of Durham City’s 30pts. After four fixtures Morpeth and Durham City are locked together with both on seven points with NSP in third place with 12pts.

18 finishes

UNDER-15 BOYS

TYNEDALE’s George Hunter defied a handicap of 1min 20secs to come home in pole position 12:08 (10:48). Second across the line was fellow Tynedale athlete George Lunt, running from the slow pack in 12:17. Completing the medallists was Morpeth’s Mason Gaylor, also running from the fast pack, 12:28 (11:08) with Durham City’s Henry Englehart (5^th) next quickest, 12:35 (11:15). Tynedale, led by Hunter, came out top in the team contest finishing with 7pts, followed by Elswick with 34pts and Morpeth on 37pts. After four fixtures, Tynedale lead with 5pts, followed by Elswick on 8pts and Morpeth on 16pts.

40 finishers

UNDER-15 GIRLS

A HANDICAP of 1min 20secs proved no problem to the first seven athletes across the line with victory going to Birtley’s Olivia Murphy in an excellent time of 13:19 (11:59). Following her home in second place was Alnwick’s Emilia Waugh in 13:35 (12:15) then came in third place, Poppie Phillipson (Birtley) in 12:43 (12:23). 

What an exceptionally strong age group this is this season. Morpeth, led home by fourth-placed Heidi Wilkinson, won the team race with 20pts, followed by Durham City on 52 and Houghton with 56. After four fixtures Durham City head the table with 8pts with Elswick in second place on 9pts followed by Birtley on 16pts.

41 finishers

UNDER-13 BOYS

DURHAM CITY’S Felix Hutchinson took full advantage of his 1min 20secs start to claim victory in 12:21 with Edward Hamilton (Tyne Bridge), also running from the slows, finishing runner-up in 12:38. Claiming the bronze award was fast pack athlete Noah Penfold (North Shields Poly) 12:42 (11:22). 

Following Penfold home in fourth place and second quickest on the course came Alnwick’s Finley Waugh 13:19 (11:59) with next best being Tynedale’s Monty Carter who finished sixth 13:22 (12:02). Tynedale, led home by Carter, topped the team stakes with 21pts followed by North Shields Poly on 40pts and Tyne Bridge on 50pts. After four fixtures North Shields Poly currently head the table on 9pts followed by Tynedale on 10pts and Morpeth on 13pts.

65 finishers

UNDER-13 GIRLS

THE first two home defied a 1min 20secs handicap with victory going to Martha Carr of Prudhoe Plodders in 14:09 and an actual time of 12:49. Second across the line came Sedgefield’s Jess Davies 14:32 (13:12) followed by Amelia Lind (North Shields Poly), running from the slow pack, in 14:36. 

Led by Amelia, North Shields P:oly led the team section with 15pts, followed by Wallsend with 43pts and Tynedale on 50pts. After four fixtures, North Shields Poly currently head the table on 9pts, Elswick lie in second place on 18pts followed by Wallsend in third spot on 22pts.

55 finishers

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

AFTER coming out on top in the opening three fixtures, Oscar Paxton (Sunderland) was relegated into second place this time round with victory going to North Shields Poly’s Matthias Gheorghiu with Matthias recording 6:08 to win by 12 seconds as Jamie Michalowicz, also of the Poly, claimed third place in 6:27.

UNDER-11 GIRLS

SUNDERLAND’S Anna Butler claimed her first success of the season after finishing runner-up on the previous three occasions. The Wearsider crossed the line in 6:50 and was followed home by Tynedale’s Millie Carter in 6:54 and Laila Oulaid (Tyne Bridge) in 6:58.

 

MEN OVER-65

MICK MEANEY (Ponteland Runners) tasted victory for the first time this campaign crossing the line in 33:06 with previous winner, Paul Tomaney of Durham City, finishing runner-up in 33:28. Crook’s Geoff Hewitson finished in third place in 33:58. The first over-70 to finish was Robert Sewell of Ponteland Runners in 32:09 while George Routledge (Heaton) was first over-75 home in 51:00.

 

** A HUGE thank you to Saltwell Harriers once again for hosting an excellent day’s sport; to all the club’s marshals who were at their posts encouraging competitors throughout the long day; to the technical officials and chip timing team without whom there wouldn’t be an event; to the first aid squad who had a few things on their hands and finally to all the competitors who made the day go off so well.

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: Bill McGuirk & Michelle Connelly

NEHL 25-26 Wrekenton Cross Country

SFNEHL WREKENTON WHITEHILLLS SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2025

Many thanks, as always, to Saltwell Harriers for hosting the fixture again this year.

See edit of course map - the U13 and U15 age groups now run 2miles (full lap) as in other SFNEHL fixtures.

See below image for site layout and courses for various age group events (note the U20 women will be once again running with the senior women).

PLEASE NOTE THE AREAS DESIGNATED WITH TREE PLANTING AND KEEP CLEAR OF THOSE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

The event site is accessed from Old Durham Road, and Harebell Road (what3words avoid.clots.navy).

There is limited parking next to the event site for tent drop off and officials, Parking is once again at the NHS Car Park (what3words dive.brand.fall) opposite Cardinal Hume School.

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ANYWHERE IN THE BEACON LOUGH ESTATE ADJACENT TO THE COURSE AREA. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS (ALSO OCCASIONALLY THE POLICE). WE HAVE ENOUGH TO DO ACROSS THE DAY AS IT IS. MANY THANKS.

Start Times

12.00 Under 11 Boys

12.10 Under 11 Girls

12.20 Under 17 men

12.25 Under 17 women

12.40 Under 15 Boys

12.45 Under 15 Girls

12:55 Under 13 boys

13:00 Under 13 girls

13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women

13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran Men

Late Entries, Lost numbers, Guest entries

These will be available at race HQ for £10

M65 Transfers

Available at race HQ for no cost. M65s wanting to run in the two lap race must change to a Pink M65 number, and please be aware that if you have transferred you must obey the pack rules.

NEHL Lambton - Race Report by Bill McGuirk

 STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY AT LAMBTON

 

NEWCASTLE and Durham University athletes turned out in force in the third fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League at Lambton. On a typical Autumn day, cold and bright, the region’s visiting competitors were well rewarded as they provided the winners of both the senior men and women’s races which saw huge fields once again turn out especially in the senior contests while numbers were slightly down in the young athletes’ races due to the half-term holidays. However, once again the mudlarks were disappointed as the course, just as it was at Thornley Hall Farm and Druridge Bay, was as dry as sticks. Nevertheless, an exciting day’s sport unfolded as clubs battled for individual and team honours.

 

SENIOR MEN (3 large laps)

 

OVER 300 toed the line from the slow pack and once the initial charge settled down it was Newcastle Uni’s Jamie Swindale who headed the charge away from the start area. By the completion of the first circuit Swindale already had a commanding lead over Morpeth’s Lee Cuthbertson and Louis Gardner (Jesmond Joggers) while Duncan Hughes (Blackhill) and Adrien Bailes were making inroads from the medium pack and fast pack respectively from a 2min36secs and 5:16 handicap. 

Entering the final lap Swindale, a member of the Lincoln Wellington club, was still well clear with Gardner moving into second place with Hughes now up to seventh and Bailes 28^th. Swindale, despite being a third year student on Tyneside, was making his harrier league debut, and his first taste proved to be a winning one as he came home in 36:57 as Hughes crossed the line in second place in 38:02 (actual 35:26) with Gardner completing the one-two-three in 38:38. Bailes meanwhile, worked his way through to finish in eighth place overall in 40:06 to post the quickest actual time on the course of 34:50. Hughes was second fastest with under-20 athlete Liam McDonough (Alnwick) next best after finishing in 13^th place with an actual time of 35:34. Second fastest under-20 was Newcastle University’s Max Hazelhurst (35:58) with Joe Willis (Sunderland) next best with 38:44. 

In the team stakes, Newcastle University were runaway winners of Division One with 66 points followed by Gateshead with 139 and North Shields Poly on 145. In Division Two, Jesmond Joggers won a close contest with Heaton finishing with 87pts against the Eastenders’ 92 with Elswick back in third with 136.

417 Finishers

SENIOR WOMEN (2 large laps)

 

FRESH from helping England finishing second team the previous weekend in the Corsa del Castelli 10k in Trieste, Italy, Durham University’s Megan Stenhouse was a comfortable winner for the second time this season having triumphed in the opening fixture at Thornley Hall Farm. Running from the medium pack this time round, the Rugby and Northampton athlete was in second place behind fellow Durham team-mate Amy Wilson with Amy Styles (Newcastle University) next to appear through the narrow gate on their outward journey for a second time. Stenhouse quickly moved into the lead and it was no surprise when the athletes came back into view 150 yards from the finish she was well clear to cross the line in 28min 08secs (actual time 25:38). 

Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald, also running from the medium pack, finished in second place in 28:51 (27:21), Potts claiming the bronze medal and first under-20 home in 30:48. 

Overall Stenhouse was quickest on the course followed by MacDonald with Houghton’s Anna Pigford, running from the fast pack and working her way through to finish in sixth place in an actual time of 27:40. Quickest under-20 on the course was Hatti Stead with 29:30 after crossing the line in 47^th position running from the fast pack; Cadence Willis (Newcastle University) was next best recording 30:17 running from the medium pack then came Potts. Morpeth, led home by MacDonald, came out on top in Division One with 30 points, three points clear of Sunderland with Tynedale finishing in third place with 48pts. In Division Two Blaydon, with seventh-placed Letha Whitham, leading them home, finished with 51pts finishing ahead of both Birtley and Crook who both had 58pts with the Gateshead-based outfit claiming second place on countback. In Division Three, Newcastle University, led home by Potts, finished with 19pts, followed by Blyth in second place with 48pts and Chester-le-Street on 73pts.

358 Finishers

 

UNDER-17 MEN (1 small lap and 1 large lap)

 

NOAH WILLIAMSON took full advantage of a 2min 30sec start to claim victory. The North East Project athlete held everyone at bat accept the in-form Alfie Cook (Gateshead) who worked his way through to an excellent second place running from the fast pack. While Williamson led throughout the contest to cross the line in 19:37, Cook cut back the deficit to just 13 seconds to post the fastest overall time of 17:20 to add to the quickest time at both Thornley and Druridge Bay. Isaac Snell (Tyne Bridge) claimed the bronze award with 19:58 while second quickest on the course was Tynedale’s Jamie Lonergan who finished fourth with an actual time of 18:34 with James Omerod (Durham City, sixth) next best with 18:40. Tynedale, led home by Lonergan, won the team event with 31pts with Durham City in second place with 45pts.

24 Finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN (1 small lap and 1 large lap)

 

GATESHEAD’S Emily Collingwood led throughout the contest winning by 27 seconds in 22:05 from Darlington’s Matilda Owens (22:32) and Niamh Phillipson (Birtley (24:21), all three girls running from the slow pack from a 2:30 advantage. Quickest on the course was Morpeth’s Molly Roche with a time of 22:03, two seconds faster than Collingwood with Owens next best with 22:32. Roche led Morpeth to team success with 15pts with Durham City in second place with 36pts.

17 Finishers

 

UNDER-15 BOYS (1 large lap)

 

WALLSEND’S Tom McCann was never headed as he crossed the line in 13:05, 25 seconds clear of Blyth’s James Floyd with Darlington’s Daniel Callaghan seven seconds further in arrears in third place. Fastest on the course was Tynedale’s George Hunter, running from a 1min 15sec penalty to finish in seventh place with an actual time of 12:45. Just two seconds and one place slower came Ernie Bigg (Tyne Bridge) with McCann next best with 13:05. Hunter led Tynedale to team victory with 37pts followed. By Morpeth with 57 and Elswick with 60.

52 Finishers

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS (1 large lap)

 

ELSWICK’S Ayla Bright took full advantage of a 1min 15sec start to claim a popular victory for the West End club. Blight was always at the head of affairs before crossing the line in 14:43 well clear of Gateshead’s Jessica Gould (15:17) with Birtley’s Olivia Murphy next home from the fast pack in 15:35 and an actual time of 14:20. Blight was second quickest on the course with Durham City’s sixth-place Evelyn Proctor third best overall with 15:07. Blight led Elswick to team success with 15pts followed by Durham City with 24pts.

34 Finishers

 

UNDER-13 BOYS (1 large lap)

 

MORPETH’S Luke Thompson took full advantage of a 1min 15sec handicap to ease to victory in 14:54. North Shields Poly’s Owen Cunningham followed Thompson home in 15:13 while Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper was a close-up third in 15:16 to be fastest on the course with an actual time of 14:01. Second quickest, in fourth place, was North Shields Poly’s Ethan Hughes (14:15) followed by Tynedale’s Monty Carter with 14:24. Hopper led Jarrow and Hebburn to team victory with 19pts followed by North Shields Poly with 28 and Tynedale with 29.

58 Finishers

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS (1 large lap)

 

TYNEDALE’S Isabelle Cosstick, making her harrier league seasonal debut, made it a winning one after seeing off her main rivals, Sedgefield duo Phoebe Grieveson and Isla Shuffleton. Cossick crossed the line in 16:14, 11 seconds ahead of Grieveson with Shuffleton just one second further back in third place. Fastest on the course was Martha Carr of Prudhoe Plodders with an actual time of 15:15 after working her way into fourth place from a 1:15 penalty. Gosforth’s Ruby Collins was next best in fifth position with a time of 15:27 with  Celia De Lucas third quickest in seventh place with a time of 15:40. Sedgefield won the team stakes with Jess Davies (13^th) backing up Grieveson and Shuffleton for a total of 18pts , Tynedale were second on 23pts and Prudhoe Plodders third with 35pts.

50 Finishers

 

UNDER-11 BOYS (1 small lap)

 

SUNDERLAND’s Oscar Paxton made it three wins from three starts after his latest victory in 6:58. North Shields Poly’s Edward Duff came home in second place in 7:06 followed closely behind by Logan Garrington (Gateshead) in 7:10.

63 Finishers

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS (1 small lap)

 

NORTH Shields Poly’s Emily Mann claimed her second success of the campaign in the closest finish of the day. Mann crossed the line in 7:32, two seconds clear of Sunderland’s Anna Butler with Millie Carter (Tynedale) just one second further adrift in third position.

38 Finishers

 

MEN OVER-65 (2 large laps)

 

OLYMPIAN Ray Smedley (Ponteland) was awarded victory (35:59) after the first in the age group was disqualified for racing from the wrong pack. Smedley’s Ponteland team-mate, Mick Meaney, running from the medium pack, was deemed second home with an actual time of 34:41 and quickest overall, followed across the line by Durham City’s Clifford Feathersone in 37:28. Second fastest was Crook’s Geoff Hewitson – sixth overall – in 35:33 followed by Smedley in 35:59. Robert Sewell (4th) backed up Smedley and Meaney to win the team race with 7pts, followed by Crook on 23pts and North Shields Poly with 38pts.

20 Finishers

 

***A HUGE thanks to the landowners at Lambton for the use of their land; to the Low Fell, Birtley and Washington clubs for hosting another excellent event; to all the volunteer technical officials and marshalls for being at their posts on a bitterly cold day and to the first aid team without home the SFNEHL would not be the success it is. The next fixture is scheduled for November 23 at Wrekenton, will there be mud, I wouldn’t bet on it!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: BC Photography